MATTEL EXPANDS NEW MEDIA LINE UP
By Adnews Staff
U.S.-based Mattel Media has added new products to its line of new media offerings. They are: the Barbie Photo Designer Digital Camera and CD-ROM, the Barbie Riding Club CD-ROM, the Fashion Magic series of CD-ROMs and Detective Barbie CD-ROM. The Barbie Digital Camera is a film-free, flash free color camera for young girls. It lets users take photos and instantly download them into the computer. The accompanying CD-ROM lets users do such things as create Barbie postcards, design personalized scrapbooks and direct their own animated movies starring Barbie and their photo subjects. The Barbie Riding Club allows users to go on virtual horseback rides and also includes a virtual pet component, allowing users to feed and groom their chosen horse on their computer. The Fashion Magic series includes three CD-ROMs called Hair Wear 'N Charms, Tank Top Iron Ons and Tattoos. Hair 'N Wear allow girls to design and personalize their hair wear. They can also make backpack tags, zipper pulls and button covers. Tank Top Iron Ons lets girls design their own shirts using hundreds of patterns and painting tools. Tattoos lets users create temporary tattoos. Detective Barbie is an interactive mystery game using 3-D graphics. Other new CD-ROMs include Interactive Pooh, Hot Wheels Stunt Track Driver and Barbie Jewelry Designer and Nail Designer. In Canada, the CD-ROMs will be promoted using national TV ads created by Ogilvy & Mather of New York. The agency's Canadian office adapted the ads for the Canadian market and handled the Canadian media buy.